Club News
23 August 1996
Robert
Croft, the 26 year old Glamorgan off-spinner, won his
first Test cap by being included in the England XI for the Third Test
against Pakistan at The Oval. There had been a lot of speculation in
the media that England would opt for a four man pace attack with Ian
Salisbury acting as the only spinner, but when the final XI was
announced, Croft was included and replaced Somerset`s Andy Caddick
from the XI which drew the Second Test at Headingley. Croft`s
inclusion means that he became the 14th homegrown Glamorgan player,
and only the second fluent Welsh speaker, to win an England Test
cap. Croft spent his first day as a Test player in The Oval dressing
rooms, before batting at number 10 when England resumed their innings
on Friday afternoon. He was unbeaten on 5 when England were bowled
out, and after tea he claimed his first Test victim dismissing
Pakistani opener Aamir Sohail.
Several newspapers have been carrying stories recently linking
Waqar
Younis with Glamorgan as their overseas player for the
next two seasons. Mike Fatkin, Glamorgan`s Cricket Secretary,
confirmed that an official approach has been made, but that a final
decision has not yet been made. Six or seven other counties, including
Surrey and Durham have also expressed an interest in signing the
Pakistani pace bowler.
Junior cricket in Wales recently received a huge boost as earlier in
the week a cheque for 95,265 pounds was handed over by the T.C.C.B. to
Peter Walker, the recently appointed Cricket Development Officer for
Wales. The awards were made by Ossie Wheatley, the Chairman of the
Cricket Foundation, and the cash will be aimed primarily at 11 to 16
year olds. "The money will be a great boost towards developing quality
young cricketers, " said Wheatley, " and the grant will hugely assist
the vast army of volunteers on whom the game depends at the grass
roots level."